Rotary refuse packer

ABSTRACT

The invention is a rotary press for compacting waste paper and trash into a removable storage container. It comprises a rotating drum carrying a sliding packing blade positioned within a housing with the blade sliding in the drum as it rotates to accommodate the narrowing compaction area. A wiping blade coacts with the movement of the packing blade to sweep the compacted refuse into the storage container while the opposite end of the packing blade begins another compaction stroke.

O United States Patent 1 1 3,593,656

[72] Inventors Henry W. Churchman [56] References Cited Q" Wilson; 2 UNITED STATES PATENTS v ig l kg g ggg 711,938 10/1902 Casper 100 177 2 A I No 37102 1,788,330 1/1931 Rossm, 107/15 1 P 3,168,057 2/1965 Bliss 100/177 ux [221 Wed May 3 348 47s 10/1967 Fenster m1 100/177 [45] Patented July 20, 1971 Primary Examiner-Billy .l. Wilhite AttarneyMiller and Brown ABSTRACT: The invention is a rotary press for compacting [54] 29 waste paper and trash into a removable storage container. lt rawmg comprises a rotating drum carrying a sliding packing blade [52] U.S. Cl 100/1177, positioned within a housing with the blade sliding in the drum 418/264 as it rotates to accommodate the narrowing compaction area. [51] lnt.Cl 1330b 5/00 A wiping blade coacts with the movement of the packing [50] Field of Search 100/ 177, blade to sweep the compacted refuse into the storage con- 178, DlG. 6; 107/15; 418/264; 53/124; 141/73, 71,

tainer while the opposite end of the packing blade begins another compaction stroke.

PATENIEU JUL20 19m SHEET 2 BF 2 ATTOQ/VEYS The disposing of waste products and trash is a national problem of major importance which is threatening our ecological environment. The average person in this country today produces l pounds of trash per day which must be burned or buried. Before it can be economically transported to a site of disposal, it must be compacted to a reasonable density. Practically all trash hauling trucks today utilize some method of compressing the loose trash when it is picked up.

While the storage and pickup problems of residential dwellings have been minor, commercial buildings and apartment houses are presenting more serious problems due to space limitations. Some apartment houses are using large metal containers which are picked up and carried by special apparatus trucks without any compaction of the trash. This method is not satisfactory because the users will fill them with large bulky objects such as cardboard boxes without collapsing them. Other apartment buildings which in the past incinerated their trash are being stopped due to the air pollution it creates.

The present invention is a stationary unit positioned within the apartment house or grocery store which compacts the refuse as it collects. The packer forces the refuse into a removable container which can be easily transported and emptied. In this manner the area occupied by the unit compared with the amount of refuse handled is minimized.

It is therefore the principal object. of the present invention to provide a refuse collection station which compacts the trash as it gathers to save space and increase its capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a two-stage ro tary refuse packer which compacts the trash and then transmits it into the storage container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a packer with a single sliding bladecarried on a rotating drum which alternately extends from opposing sides of the drum for each compaction stroke.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a packer with a rotating and sliding packing blade which coacts with a pivoting wiping blade at the end of the compaction stroke to force the refuse into a storage container.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a plan view with portions of the drum broken away to illustrate the position of one of the cam followers;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rotating drum and blade assembly removed from the housing with cam followers at one end of theblade retracted and at the other end extended;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 with the packing blade beginning its compaction stroke; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view to an enlarged scale taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the present invention, and initially to FIG. 1 for this purpose, it will be seen that the packer is generally identified by reference numeral 10.

The packer comprises a rectangular housing 12 with a trash entry duct 14 and a discharge duct 16. The housing 12 is made up of-a pair of sidewalls l7 and,l8, end walls 19 and 20, and bottom wall 21. Each sidewall is fabricated from two steel panels with a space therebetween, as seen in FIG. 5. Supthereof. The power source for driving the packer, which is not shown, can be attached to either keyed axle 24 or 25.

Passing through the center of the drum 23 is a diametral slot 26 which receives a sliding packing blade 28. Lying adjacent the slot 26 are two wedge members 29 and 30, one on each side of the drum 23, which are welded integral with the drum 23 for assisting the blade 28 and performing other functions mentioned hereafter. Located at each end of the packing blade 28 is a pair of retractable cam follower assemblies 32 and 33, one of which is shown in detail in FIG. 5. The assembly 32 includes a pair of plunger members 35 slidably positioned within a boxshaped housing 36. Rotatably mounted on the end of each plunger 35 is a roller 37. The roller is biased outward by spring 38 against the sidewall 17. The flange 39 on the end of plunger 35 limits its outward. movement. When the roller 37 is not engaged in the cam slot 40, it is forced to retract within the cam follower housing 36, as illustrated by assembly 3.3 in FIGS. 2 and 5. A ramp portion 41 at the end of the slot 40 forces the cam roller 37 to retract flush with the inner panel ofsidewall I7.

The compaction chamber 42 of the packer is defined by the space between the drum assembly 22 and the stationary curved wall 44. Since the curved wall 44 is not concentric with the axis of the drum assembly, the radial cross section of zone 42 decreases as the blade 28 rotates counterclockwise through the chamber 42. The decreasing width. is accommodated by blade 28 sliding inward in slot 26.

A wiping blade 45 is pivotally mounted to the packer housing 12 by a shaft 46. The blade 45 is normally positioned with its free edge 47 in contact with drum 22, as seen in FIG. 1. Connected to shaft 46 is a linkage arrangement for actuating the wiping blade, including arm 48, link 49, arm 50, shaft 51 and arm 52, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The shaft 51 is pivotally joumaled to the sidewall 17 and extends inward therefrom so that the arm 52 will come in contact with the rotating packing blade 28, as seen in FIG. 4.

OPERATION OF THE PACKER The trash entry duct 14 can be connected to a collection hopper or any other type of trash shute. The trash enters the packer 10 through duct 14 and gathers in the compaction chamber 42, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1. The prime mover for operating the packer It) can be started manually or by a variety of automatic means such as a photoelectric cell, pressure responsive switch or other type of servo. When the chamber 42 is filled, the drum begins to rotate in a counterclockwise direction from its FIG. 1 position. The packing blade 2%! begins to extend, since the cam follower assembly 32 is engaged in the recessed cam track 40. As the packing blade approaches the FIG. 4 position, the cam follower engages the ramp 4] which forces the cam roller to retract and disengage from the cam track 40. At the same time, cam follower 32 is disengaging, cam follower 33, on the opposite end of the packing blade 28, is engaging the lower end of cam track 40. The lower end of the cam track begins with a ramp 47 to prevent the roller 37 from snapping into the track due to the force of spring 38.

The FIG. 4 position is the beginning of the compaction stroke. As the packing blade 28 continues to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the trash in chamber 42 is compacted due to the resistance to movement and the narrowing of the distance between drum 23 and the wall 44. The packing blade 2% accommodates this narrowing by sliding inward in the drum slot 26 due to the action of cam follower 33 in the cam track 40. The drum assembly 22 is essentially forcing the trash through a narrowing chamber 42 into the discharge duct 16.

Working in conjunction with the packing blade 28 is a wiping blade 45 which normally lays against the drum 23 (FIG. I). As the packing blade approaches the end of its stroke (FIG. 1 and begins to retract, the wiper blade 45 rides up the ramp 30 and takes over forcing the trash into the discharge duct 16. Further actuation of the wiping blade 45 is caused when the opposite end of packing blade 28 comes in contact with lever arm 52. The movement of arm 52 actuates the blade 45 through an operative means including arm 50, line 49 and and arm 48. This sequential actuation of wiping blade 45 scrapes the compacted trash from the drum assembly 22 forcing the trash into discharge duct 16 while the ramp 30 and the retracted packing blade pass behind the wiping blade, as shown in FIG. 4. The ramp structure 29 and 30 allows a clean action of the blade 45 so that none of the trash can get behind blade 45 and ride around with the drum assembly. After the cam follower 32 passes by am 52, the wiping blade 45 will return to its FIG. 1 position to await the next compaction stroke.

The discharge duct 16 connects with an opening in a removable container (not shown) which is transported to a disposal site when the container is filled with compacted trash.

Having described the invention with sufficient clarity to enable those familiar with the art to construct and use it, we claim:

1. A two-stage rotary refuse packer, the first stage comprismg:

a housing including an interior chamber connected to entry and discharge pressure;

a rotary drum having a diametral slot positioned in said chamber defining a compaction zone of narrowing cross sectional area;

a first blade for packing the refuse slidably positioned in said slot having a cam follower means carried on the blade;

cam means in the housing for actuating the sliding movement of the first blade as the drum rotates to accommodate the narrowing compaction zone as the blade passes through the compaction stroke;

the second stage including a pivotally mounted second blade in the interior chamber positioned approximate the discharge passage; and

operative means connecting the second blade with the rotating drum and first blade in such a relation that the second blade actuates each time the first blade approaches the end of its compaction stroke whereby the compacted refuse is swept by the second blade into the discharge passage.

2. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 1 wherein, the cam follower means comprises at least one roller mounted at each end of the blade for alternately engaging the cam means and causing the opposite end of the first blade to retract as it rotates through the compaction stroke.

3. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 1 wherein, the housing includes a pair of sidewalls which define the sides of the compaction zone, the cam means comprises a recess track in one of said sidewalls and the cam follower means comprises at least one roller mounted at each end of the first blade for alternately engaging the cam means and causing the opposite end of the first blade to retract as it rotates through the compaction stroke.

4. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 1 wherein, the housing includes a pair of sidewalls which define the sides of the compaction zone, the cam means comprises a recessed track with ramps at each end in at least one of said sidewalls, and cam follower means comprising at least one spring biased extending roller mounted at each end of the first blade for alternately extending into the recessed tack and causing the opposite end of the first blade to retract as it rotates through the compaction stroke.

5. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim I wherein, the second blade has a free edge which normally lies in contact with the rotating drum, and wedge means integrally mounted on the rotating drum in a position to contact the edge of the second blade and cause it to scrape any refuse away from the rotating drum and first blade.

6. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 1 wherein, the second blade has a free edge normally positioned in contact with the rotating drum, and wedge means carried on the rotating drum in a position to initially actuate the second blade before said operative means further actuates the second blade.

7. A rotary refuse packer comprising:

a housing having a pair of sidewalls which define an interior chamber, entry and discharge passages connected to the interior chamber;

a rotary drum with a diametral slot positioned in the chamber defining a compaction zone of narrowing crossscctional area;

a packing blade carried by the drum slidably positioned within the slot for packing the refuse in the compaction zone;

cam follower means attached to each end of the blade; and

cam track means in the sidewalls of the housing which alternately engage the cam followers on opposite ends of the blade to retract as it rotates through the narrowing compaction zone, whereby the compacted refuse is forced through the compaction zone by opposing ends of the packing blade.

8. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 7 wherein, the cam track means comprises a recessed track in the sidewall of the housing, and the cam follower means includes at least one spring biased extendable roller, which normally extends into the recessed track.

9. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 7 wherein, the cam track means comprises a recessed track in the sidewall of the housing with ramp means at each end of the track, and the cam follower means including at least one spring biased extendable roller which normally extends into the track and disengaging itself from the track when the roller rides up the ramp.

10. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 1 wherein, the second blade normally lies in contact with the rotating drum, along the edge of the compaction zone; and the operative means comprises a mechanical linkage including an actuator arm which extends into the path of the first blade and is actuated by the first blade when the opposite end of the first blade approaches the end of its compaction stroke, whereby the second blade moves into the interior chamber forcing the compacted refuse in front of the first blade into the discharge passage. 

1. A two-stage rotary refuse packer, the first stage comprising: a housing including an interior chamber connected to entry and discharge pressure; a rotary drum having a diametral slot positioned in said chamber defining a compaction zone of narrowing cross-sectional area; a first blade for packing the refuse slidably positioned in said slot having a cam follower means carried on the blade; cam means in the housing for actuating the sliding movement of the first blade as the drum rotates to accommodate the narrowing compaction zone as the blade passes through the compaction stroke; the second stage including a pivotally mounted second blade in the interior chamber positioned approximate the discharge passage; and operative means connecting the second blade with the rotating drum and first blade in such a relation that the second blade actuates each time the first blade approaches the end of its compaction stroke whereby the compacted refuse is swept by the second blade into the discharge passage.
 2. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 1 wherein, the cam follower means comprises at least one roller mounted at each end of the blade for alternately engaging the cam means and causing the opposite end of the first blade to retract as it rotates through the compaction stroke.
 3. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 1 wherein, the housing includes a pair of sidewalls which define the sides of the compaction zone, the cam means comprises a recess track in one of said sidewalls and the cam follower means comprises at least one roller mounted at each end of the first blade for alternately engaging the cam means and causing the opposite end of the first blade to retract as it rotates through the compaction stroke.
 4. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 1 wherein, the housing includes a pair of sidewalls which define the sides of the compaction zone, the cam means comprises a recessed track with ramps at each end in at least one of said sidewalls, and cam follower means comprising at least one spring biased extending roller mounted at each end of the first blade for alternately extending into the recessed tack and causing the opposite end of the first blade to retract as it rotates through the compaction stroke.
 5. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 1 wherein, the second blade has a free edge which normally lies in contact with the rotating drum, and wedge means integrally mounted on the rotating drum in a position to contact the edge of the second blade and cause it to scrape any refuse away from the rotating drum and first blade.
 6. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 1 wherein, the second blade has a free edge normally positioned in contact with the rotating drum, and wedge means carried on the rotating drum in a position to initially actuate the second blade before said operative means further actuates the second blade.
 7. A rotary refuse packer comprising: a housing having a pair of sidewalls which define an interior chamber, entry and discharge passages connected to the interior chamber; a rotary drum with a diametral slot positioned in the chamber defining a compaction zone of narrowing cross-sectional area; a packing blade carried by the drum slidably positioned within the slot for packing the refuse in the compaction zone; cam follower means attached to each end of the blade; and cam track means in the sidewalls of the housing which alternately engage the cam followers on opposite ends of the blade to retract as it rotates through the narrowing compaction zone, whereby the compacted refuse is forced through the compaction zone by opposing ends of the packing blade.
 8. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 7 wherein, the cam track means comprises a recessed track in the sidewall of the housing, and the cam follower means includes at least one spring biased extendable roller, which normally extends into the recessed track.
 9. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 7 wherein, the cam track means comprises a recessed track in the sidewall of the housing with ramp means at each end of the track, and the cam follower means including at least one spring biased extendable roller which normally extends into the track and disengaging itself from the track when the roller rides up the ramp.
 10. A rotary refuse packer as set forth in claim 1 wherein, the second blade normally lies in contact with the rotating drum, along the edge of the compaction zone; and the operative means comprises a mechanical linkage including an actuator arm which extends into the path of the first blade and is actuated by the first blade when the opposite end of the first blade approaches the end of its compaction stroke, whereby the second blade moves into the interior chamber forcing the compacted refuse in front of the first blade into the discharge passage. 